Summer 2018 Roundup

Tune in – AUTUMN / WINTER 2018 –

all-star lineup at the o2

In January 2018 the LPO was invited to perform the British National Anthem at the National Basketball Association (NBA) London Game 2018 at The O2, which saw the Boston Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers. The Orchestra is no stranger to sporting events, having recorded all the national anthems for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games; however this marked the first time the Orchestra has performed at a basketball game, and the first time playing at The O2.

glyndebourne 2018

We opened our 55th consecutive season as Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s resident symphony orchestra on 19 May with Puccini’s glorious Madama Butterfly conducted by Omer Meir Wellber. Over the summer we also performed Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande under Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati, and Barber’s rarely performed, Pulitzer Prize-winning Vanessa under Jakub Hrůša. All four productions won praise from press and audiences, with Der Rosenkavalier proving a particular hit and several 5* reviews singling out the LPO’s playing (see above). The 14 June performance of Vanessa and the 21 June Madama Butterfly performance were both broadcast live in cinemas UK-wide and streamed live free of charge on the Glyndebourne and Telegraph websites.

lpo international board launchED

The London Philharmonic Orchestra launched its International Board of Governors on 20 March 2018 at a special evening at Windsor Castle hosted by its Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent. The 200 guests present were treated to performances by mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, tenor Toby Spence and baritone Benjamin Appl.

The new International Board includes members drawn from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. It will help increase the Orchestra’s reach and connections in key territories, securing engagements and acting as an important channel for generating private support for the Orchestra in challenging times. It will also help the Orchestra to connect with, and fundraise from, new communities within London and the UK.

find out more nick.jackman@lpo.org.uk

happy not perfect

On 16 May 2018 the Orchestra encountered one of its most laidback audiences ever, when we were invited to perform at the launch of Happy Not Perfect: a new app, brand and community dedicated to helping people stress less, sleep better and stay balanced. The launch event at Cecil Sharp House, which took place during Mental Health Awareness Week, saw the Orchestra give a relaxing ‘soundbath’ performance of the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.

happynotperfect.com

tune in – AUTUMN / WINTER 2018 –

BBC proms 2018

This summer we gave two BBC Proms concerts: on 17 July we brought a taste of Glyndebourne to the Royal Albert Hall with a semi-staged production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, fresh from this summer’s Festival. Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati conducted, and the cast included Christopher Purves as Golaud and Christina Gansch as Mélisande. We returned to the Proms on 30 August to perform Verdi’s Requiem with the London Philharmonic Choir under Andrés Orozco- Estrada.

summer gala 2018

On Monday 11 June we were thrilled to ‘Share the Wonder’ of music at our Summer Gala, as we celebrated 30 inspiring years of our Education & Community Programme at the City’s illustrious Guildhall. The musical programme, curated by Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Vladimir Jurowski, highlighted the crucial side-by-side work that the Orchestra undertakes with young people and community participants, and featured members of Foyle Future Firsts, LPO Junior Artists and LPO Young Composers. We were also delighted to welcome soloists Kristóf Baráti, Kate Royal and Angharad Lyddon, as well as London Music Masters alumna Betania Johnny.

Thanks to the generosity of our 300 guests, over £210,000 was raised. These much-needed funds will directly support the work of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, particularly the key projects of the Education & Community Programme that will enable us to continue to invest in the creation of future experiences for all.

lpo.org.uk/support-us/gala-2018

LPO JUNIOR ARTISTS:OVERTURE

A participant on the January 2018 Overture Day at London’s Royal Academy of Music

Now in its third season, LPO Junior Artists is our groundbreaking programme for talented musicians aged 15–19 from backgrounds under-represented in orchestral music. This year we’ve launched LPO Junior Artists: Overture – a new strand for younger players, offering opportunities to develop key musical skills and gain an insight into the world of a professional orchestra. In July, 25 musicians aged 11–14 from across London and beyond took part in a two-day Overture course, exploring repertoire by Stravinsky and Shostakovich. The young participants picked up valuable tips on their playing through sectional rehearsals with LPO musicians, Foyle Future Firsts and current LPO Junior Artists, created their own music inspired by Stravinsky, and found out how to take their next steps as a musician.

summer at canary wharf

On 8 August the Orchestra gave a free public outdoor performance at Canada Square Gardens as part of the Canary Wharf Summer Gala concert series – the third year running we’ve been invited to perform. We’ll return to Canary Wharf in December 2018 for three performances of The Snowman with live film (indoors!)

LPO junior artists: overturefit as a fiddle

LPO runners (L–R): Greg Felton, Stewart McIlwham, Sebastian Pennar and Andrew Barclay

On 15 July a team from the LPO ran the annual Virgin Sport British 10K through central London, in aid of the Orchestra’s Annual Appeal, ‘Sharing the Wonder’. The team comprised LPO musicians Stewart McIlwham, Sebastian Pennar and Andrew Barclay; admin staff Greg Felton and Nick Jackman; Foyle Future First Katherine Bryer; LPO Benefactor Per Jonsson; and LPO Advisory Council member Bernard Rix and his wife Karen. Together, the team raised over £9000 to support the inspiring work of our Education & Community programme as it enters its fourth decade.

on location with Belmond

Continuing our ongoing partnership with luxury travel collection Belmond, LPO musicians have been invited to perform at some of Belmond’s most iconic destinations during 2018/19. The series begins in Sicily on 3 & 4 September, when an LPO brass ensemble will give two intimate recitals bringing together the best of British and Italian music. Later in September, an LPO sextet will travel to Belmond Hotel das Cataratas beside the Iguaçu Falls in Brazil, where they will perform music by the country’s most celebrated composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos.

The next instalment of the series will be in April 2019, under the starry skies of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, where unspoilt wilderness and game surrounds Belmond Eagle Island Lodge. LPO musicians will celebrate the breathtaking surroundings with a wind quintet arrangement of Saint-Saëns’s much-loved Carnival of the Animals.